Aquatic invasive species (AIS) is a subject that has for years been getting a lot of press coverage, and has certainly gotten the attention of the Minnesota State Legislature. That helps, but it’s not enough to solve the growing problem. At stake are the state’s $11 billion tourism industry and a cherished way of life for many Minnesotans.The DNR's Invasive Species Program was established in 1991. Today the DNR commits 25 FTEs and 150 seasonal staff to invasive species work. Beginning in 2015, the legislature has appropriated $10 million per year in Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Act.

It may sound like a lot, but that $10 million isn’t nearly enough. And because it isn’t enough, private citizens are spending their own hard-earned dollars to keep public waters healthy by paying for herbicidal treatments on lakes to control Curly Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil. Local governments are also spending dollars to support Lake Improvement Districts (LIDs), which allow lakeshore property owners to tax themselves to combat AIS. Voluntary and local government contributions add up to more than $5 million over the last three years, according to a survey by the Minnesota COLA Collaborative, a partnership of small, medium and large lake associations. But that $5 million is just a band-aid to manage Curly Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil until the state figures out how to use public dollars to adequately protect public waters. Until then, AIS will continue to spread from lake to lake because the current response by the state isn’t commensurate with the threat. If that weren’t enough, there is no known method to control the newest scourges to Minnesota’s lakes and rivers: zebra mussels, quagga mussels, spiny water flea, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), and things lying in wait that scientists still don’t know about.

With ever-tightening state budgets and with costs rising each year, Minnesota – a state recognized as a leader when it comes to healthy water resources – needs to set up a permanent funding source for AIS that is guaranteed no matter what political winds may blow in St. Paul. Most AIS funding comes from biennial general fund and Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund dollars.

Zebra mussels

Connecting a more substantial, permanent funding source to boats makes sense since boaters – most unknowingly – are probably the biggest cause of the spread of AIS throughout Minnesota. There are more than 800,000 registered boats in Minnesota, which is the highest per capita in the country. That’s one boat for every six residents. A $10 increase in registration fees from $5 to $15 would raise approximately $8 million new dollars in revenue every three years dedicated to AIS management, education and enforcement.

​Another option is to create a new AIS decal that would be purchased every year by all boaters using Minnesota waters. This would apply to residents and non-residents alike. That would admittedly be harder to track and administer, but it would also create a much bigger pool of money – maybe even enough to make some substantial progress in the fight against AIS.

With known, dedicated funding each and every year, the state can put together a long-term vision and a doable plan for dealing with AIS. The other alternative is that the state continues doing what it’s been doing and continues to lose the battle despite throwing millions of dollars at the problem.

AIS at the Legislature

At the state level, AIS legislation should be based on the following principles:

Preventing the spread is cheaper than eradication;

Once established, eradication of AIS is not likely so the focus should be on management;

Research into AIS is not new and may take many years to find even a partial solution; and

The most important thing to do now is to enact strategies that will reduce the risks of spreading AIS. These could include:

-higher penalties for spreading AIS; -increased enforcement of AIS laws; and -public education so that individuals are aware of the risks and take responsibility for actions that​ may spread AIS.Contact your legislators today and urge them to consider these principles.

MCEA confronts the AIS challenge

​MCEA has been strategically engaged in AIS issues for many years. The goals of our approach to AIS are to effectively reduce the risks of new introduction of AIS to Minnesota and to reduce the risk of new introductions within the state. ​Recently, MCEA has participated in a number of ongoing important dialogues about AIS among conservation, environmental, and sporting groups. Key among these is a group of Minnesota non-profits that are actively working to prevent the continued introduction of Asian carp in Minnesota. This group has established three primary objectives: stop the spread above lock #1 on the Mississippi River, reduce the passage of Asian carp at the lock and dam at Keokuk, IA, and to control any Asian carp that have become established upstream of Keokuk, IA. To achieve these objectives the group is working to support the ongoing efforts of Governor Dayton and to educate the federal delegation on the issues in order to get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the authority to take needed actions.

MCEA will continue to be engaged in efforts in the state that align with our AIS goals. In 2014, after a major lobbying campaign by MCEA and its allies, Congress passed an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act to close the lock at St. Anthony falls. We also support strategies that effectively reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of AIS in Minnesota and increases in general fund appropriations and user fees to fund AIS prevention.